Notebook



May 25, 1937. w.' c. ROSS 2,081,875

NOTEBOOK Filed Oct. '7, 1936 INVENTOR.

ATTO Y.

UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE NOTEBOOK Walter 0. Ross, Springfield,

White & Wyckoff Mfg. Company,

Mass, assignor to Holyoke,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October '7,

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in books and is directed more particularly to the provision of a novel book including hinged leaves and having a friction means associated therewith so that the book may be easily set up and retained in an upright reading position.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a book, such as a notebook or the like, having a pair of covers with at least one of the covers provided with what may be called a non-skid surface so that the book may be set up in an upright reading position and retained in such position without sliding along the surface on which it is supported. According to 5 the preferred form of construction of this invention, the book includes a pair of relatively stiff cover members, one of which at least has the non-skid surface referred to, and these covers are adapted to function somewhat in the manner of an easel and support the book in upright position with the non-skid surface keeping the edges of the covers from sliding and preventing the easel from collapsing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a book which includes hinged-together cover members which are readily swingablerelative to one another and to a plurality of leaves of the book. The construction is simple in form so as to be easy and economical to manufacture and the non-skid surface is not only relatively easy to provide but it does not add appreciably to the cost of the book, which is a commercial advantage since it is quite necessary that such books be sold at low cost.

It is another object of the invention to provide a book having swingable leaves and yieldable means whereby the leaves can be retained in a more or less flat and stationary position, when desired. As a special feature, I provide a non-skid or friction member which is adapted to perform both the non-skid function referred to above and the leave-retaining function just referred to.

Various other novel features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the book of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the book in set-up position; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the book showing how leaves are retained in a more or less flat posi- 55 tion.

1936, Serial No. 104,350

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

The book of the invention includes a pair of relatively stiff cover members 2 and 4, preferably made of cardboard or the like, and. a stack of leaves L. Normally, the covers 2 and t are disposed on opposite sides of stack L and the parts are hinged together for relative swinging movements as by a binding means B.

According to the preferred form of the invention the binding B consists of a spiral member, such as is shown in United States Letters Patent No. 1,516,932 to Staab, or a binder such as is shown in United States Letters. Patent No. 1,986,757 to Eden. Such a member is received in suitably aligned and spaced openings 6 provided .in the leaves L and covers .2 and 4. It should be pointed out, however, that the particular manner in which the leaves and covers are connected may be varied as desired.

It is usual to provide covers which are rectangular in shape as shown. Thus, the covers may be swung on their hinge into the form of an inverted V, with their lower marginal edges resting-on a surface S and with leaves of the stack disposed against what is normally the inner surface of either or both of covers 2 and 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be appreciated that when not in use, the covers 2 and 4 are preferably swung to lie outside of the stack with the stack protected therebetween. It is also obvious that with the book in the position shown in Fig. 2, the leaves of the stack may be swung to either side of the inverted V.

With the book in the upright position of Fig. 2, the leaves are supported in a more or less inclined position so that any reading matter on the leaves is more readily visible. It will be appreciated that it is desirable, for the readers convenience, that the book not collapse but that it retain its upright position.

Accordingly, I provide the book with a non-skid or friction member which embraces the lower marginal edge of one of the covers and is adapted to engage the surface S and prevent the covers 4 and 6 from sliding therealong. As will appear, either or both of the cover members may have a friction member associated therewith.

The material of which the friction member is composed may vary, as may its particular form. Preferably, however, it is composed of a rubberlike substance, which is commonly used to prevent skidding and the like, an it is relatively elongated or band-like so as to be capable of having a part to embrace the lower marginal edge of the cover.

It is obvious that some means must be provided whereby the band is held in position and accordingly, I provide one or both of the cover members 2 and l with one or more seats. These preferably take the form of slots 8 which extend inwardly from a marginal side edge thereof, as shown, but, as will appear, the bands may be attached in some other way.

The friction band is arranged to have a part disposed in one of the seats and another part embracing the lower marginal edge of the cover 2 or 4, with which it is associated. This member may take the form of an endless rubber band l2 which extends into the slot 8 and extends diagonally across a lower corner of the inside of the cover and around the lower marginal edge thereof.

The seat 8 is spaced from the lower marginal edge of the cover. Then when in the position shown in Fig. 2, the covers 2 and 4 constitute an easel and, with a friction member I 2 extending around a free edge of at least one of the covers and through a seat 8, the easel-forming position is easily maintained.

It will be noted that it was stated that the band l2 preferably is formed of some rubber-like substance and extends diagonally across the inside of a lower corner part of the cover. It is also desirable that the band I2 be formed of yieldable or elastic material. This is so that when the book is in open or reading position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the stretchable band l2 may be pulled outwardly a bit and the adjacent corner or corners of one or more leaves may be inserted thereunder so as to be held between the inner surface of the cover and the band.

It is usual for stenographers and the like to clip one or more of the leaves to the cover so as to hold the leaves flat against the cover. The friction member l2 of this invention not only serves its non-skid function in that it embraces a lower marginal edge of the cover but it also serves as a retainer for the leaves, when desired.

According to a particularly preferred form of the invention, the covers have an open-ended slot 8 extending inwardly from the side marginal edges of the cover and the band I2 consists of an endless stretchable band. This band l2 has an end loop seated in one slot 8 and extends diagonally across and around the adjacent lower corner of the book, is twisted intermediate its ends and then stretched diagonally around the opposite lower corner of the book so that the opposite end loop of the band may be seated in the opposite slot 8, all as shown in Fig. 1.

With this arrangement, the band l2 not only is safely associated with the cover but it embraces the lower marginal edge of the cover at two places so that added non-skid protection is attained. Further, the pair of diagonally extending parts are adapted to yieldably hold both lower corners of the leaves in position.

It will be understood that the friction member 41?. need not be endless, it being only important that a part thereof at least extend over the lower edge of the cover. It is also not essential that the band extend around both the inner and outer surfaces of the corner part of the cover, since the retaining function is usually only important when it is desired to hold the leaves against the inner surface of the cover when the book is in its inverted V position.

Of course, either or both of the covers 2 and 4 may be provided with one or more of the friction members. Where the endless band type of member l [5 shown is used, I have found it desirable to provide each cover with a pair of slots 8 and a band it.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United tates is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a book of the class described comprising in combination, a stack of leaves and a cover therefor hinged for relative swinging movements, said cover being provided with an open-ended slot extending inwardly from a marginal side edge thereof, and a friction member extending diagonally of a lower corner part of said cover and having an end part seated in said slot and an end part embracing the marginal edge of the cover which is remote from the hinge.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a book of the class described comprising in combination, a stack of leaves and a cover therefor hinged for relative swinging movements, said cover being provided with an open-ended slot extending inwardly from a marginal side edge thereof, and a friction member extending diagonally of a lower corner part of said cover and having an end part seated in said slot and an end part embracing the marginal edge of the cover which is remote from the hinge, said friction member being formed of yieldable material so that its intermediate part is movable towards and away from said cover.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a book of the class described comprising in combination, a stack of leaves and a pair of covers therefor arranged for relative swinging movements, one of said covers being provided with open-ended slots extending inwardly from the marginal side edges thereof, and an endless friction band extending diagonally around the lower corner parts of said cover and having its opposite end loops seated in said slots and an intermediate part embracing the lower marginal edge of the cover.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a book of the class described comprising in combination, a stack of leaves and a pair of covers therefor arranged for relative swinging movements, one of said covers being provided with open-ended slots extending inwardly from the marginal side edges thereof, and an endless friction band having an end loop seated in one of said seats and an adjacent part extending diagonally around the adjacent corner part of said cover and then twisted intermediate its ends so as to have an intermediate part embracing the lower marginal edge of the cover with the remainder of the band extending diagonally around the opposite corner part of the cover and the opposite end loop seated in the opposite seat.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a book comprising, a stack of leaves and a cover, hinged connections at one end of said cover and leaves connecting the same for swinging movements and providing free edges whereby the book may assume easel-forming relation with the free edge of the cover remote from the hinged connections adapted to rest on a supporting surface, the said 75 cover provided with retaining seats therethrough intermediate its free edge and the said hinge connections, and a friction member extending from one of said seats over one surface of the cover around and over the free edge thereof and over the other surface of the cover to the other seat, the said part of the friction member which extends around the free edge for lying on a supporting surface between said free edge and surface to act as anti-skid for the said book.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a book comprising, a stack of leaves and a cover, hinged connections at one end of said cover and leaves connecting the same for swinging movements and providing free edges whereby the book may assume easel-forming'relation with the free edge of the cover remote from the hinged connections adapted to rest on a supporting surface, the said cover provided with spaced retaining seats therethrough intermediate its free edge and the said hinge connections, and a friction member extending from one of said seats over opposite surfaces of the cover around and over the free edge thereof and then over said opposite surfaces of the cover to the other seat, the said part of the friction member which extends around the free edge for lying on a supporting surface between said free edge and surface to act as anti-skid for the said book.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a book comprising, a stack of leaves and a pair of covers, hinged connections at one end of said covers and leaves connecting the same for swinging movements and providing free edges whereby the book may assume easel-forming relation with the free edges of the covers remote from the hinged connections adapted to rest on a supporting surface, each of the said covers being provided with spaced retaining seats therethrough intermediate its free edge and the said hinge connections, and a friction member extending from one of said seats of each cover over one surface of that cover around and over its said free edge and then over its opposite surface to the other seat thereof, the parts of the friction members which extend around the said free edges being adapted tolie on a supporting surface between said free edges and the supporting surface to act as anti-skid for the said book.

WALTER, C. ROSS. 

